Frequently asked questions

It is a novel inspired by a documented history. Lucy Beasley was a real widow whose land and nine children appear in the records. The papers also document the 1857 court sale and the people her family enslaved. David Jacobs invented the novel's central character Mollie Ringgold. The note on page 5 of the book explains that distinction. Lucy's record stays in Arkansas. Mollie's story takes her all the way to Greenwood.

David Jacobs wrote the novel after Alvin S. Franklin brought him the story and documents. The cover credit reads "Written by David Jacobs. Story by Alvin Franklin."

DNS Books is the publishing name David Jacobs and Alvin Stone Franklin share. It stands for David and Stone, using David's first name and Alvin's middle name.

Alvin has never claimed that relationship. Researchers have found no blood or marriage line between his family and Lucy's. His family owned lots in Booker Terrace. The neighborhood was platted on Lucy's former land in 1929. Its lot abstracts carry the history of her estate. Those records came to Alvin's grandmother with the land and eventually passed to him.

You can order it here for direct support of the authors. They sign every copy sold on this site and ship from Huntsville, Alabama. Shipping costs a flat $6 in the United States. Online retailers also list the book.

Yes. The authors sign every copy ordered through this site.

We send orders by USPS from Huntsville, Alabama. The Shipping and returns page gives the current turnaround.

Yes. Send the quantity you need to info@dnsbooks.com and we'll reply with bulk pricing.

Yes. They speak at churches and schools as well as libraries. They also visit book clubs and historical societies and take part in Juneteenth and Black History Month programs. Choose Event booking on the contact form.

You can see some pages on The true story page and in the blog. The original 1800s papers are fragile and are kept out of public display. Alvin plans to give a copy of the finished book to the Arkansas State Archives. The Archives holds the same county records.

Yes. A documented account of the papers is planned, with every record cited to its page. Join the newsletter to hear when it is coming.

Readers have asked for one and we're considering it. An edition has yet to be scheduled.